Devotionals

Few would claim the mantle of Pelagius today, but it is a common belief that God’s commands imply our ability to obey. Thus, many people overestimate the degree to which they have kept God’s law. We must have a strong, ...Read More

Sin is a harsh master, leading its slaves finally to death. Christ, however, is a kind master who gives us an easy yoke. His servants will not experience eternal death but eternal life. If we think that we can find ...Read More

Knowing that God will keep us in grace inspires us to work out our salvation, obeying Him as evidence that He is indeed preserving us. And when we see someone apparently fall from grace, that is our cue to pray ...Read More

Until we are glorified, the presence of sin remains in us, affecting all that we do. Thus, our obedience cannot merit salvation because none of our obedience is perfect. But God is pleased to accept good works done in Christ ...Read More

We will cover justification in more detail in the weeks ahead. For now, let us note how critical it is that we know our good works do not and cannot justify us. The very honor of Christ is at stake ...Read More

God’s saving grace is not weak but powerful and effectual to save. It can bring dead souls to life, and since the life that God gives is far more powerful than death, no one to whom saving grace is shown ...Read More

The elect get what they do not deserve—salvation—but the reprobate get what they deserve—condemna-tion. The doctrine of election should not lead us to pride or to consider ourselves inherently holier than others. It should be a continual reminder to us ...Read More

That nothing in us moved God to choose us for salvation is hard for many people to accept. But Scripture is clear that God chose us only on account of His good pleasure. We cannot take credit in any way ...Read More

The process of God’s writing His law on our hearts begins in this life but is not completed until our glorification. Christians grow slowly but surely in their willingness to obey and to repent for even the smallest sins, and ...Read More

In addition to making His people righteous before God, Jesus, Son of David and Son of God, also restores to humanity the rule over creation originally given to us in creation (Gen. 1:26–28). Those who are in Christ by faith ...Read More